The 2011 Movie Previews The Best & Worst Upcoming Films

The Most Anticipated Films of 2011

Jude Law & Robert Downey Jr On Set

Noomi Rapace New Female Lead

Mycroft Holmes

Professor Moriarty

Movie: Sherlock Holmes (Untitled)
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law (Rumored), Rachel McAdams (rumored).
Director: Guy Ritchie
Release Date: December 16th 2011

It looks like everyone is back on board for the sequel to 2009's Sherlock Holmes which is good news. Although rumor has it that Rachel McAdam's character Irene Adler has only a minor role in this film and the lead female role is given to Noomi Rapace from The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. The first film was quite good except for the actual mystery which was underwhelming. It looks as if Sherlock Holmes will be matched against his arch rival Professor Moriaty (played by Jared Harris). Also, it seems we'll get to see Holme's brother Mycroft Holmes (played by Stephen Fry from V For Vendetta). He is the older brother (by seven years) of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes. Possessing deductive powers exceeding even those of his younger brother, Mycroft is nonetheless incapable of performing detective work similar to that of Sherlock since he is unwilling to put in the physical effort necessary to bring cases to their conclusions. Guy Ritchie is back on as Director so we should be seeing more of the hard hitting style that made the first Sherlock Holmes such a success.

Movie: Mission Impossible IV: Ghost Protocol
Starring: Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames
Director: Brad Bird
Writer: J.J. Abrams
Release Date: December 16th 2011

While the third installment of this series was less than spectacular this still has to be one of the movies to look forward to in 2011. With Tom Cruise returning to the role of Ethan Hunt and J.J. Abrams handling the writing this looks like it could be a winner. Simon Pegg is an interesting addition as most of his work has been on the comedic side. Another big addition is Josh Holloway of Lost in an undetermined role. Not many plot details released yet but one to keep an eye on. The movie will be filmed in Dubai so it will have a unique middle eastern backdrop not seen before in the series.

Movie: Xerxes
Starring: Unknown
Director: Zack Snyder
Writer: Frank Miller
Release Date: 2011

Zack Snyder and Frank Miller will team up for the first time since 300. Not much is known about this project other than it will be based off of a graphic novel to be written by Frank Miller. The events will take place before the events of 300 so anyone hoping for Gerard Butler's return will probably be disappointed. However, those looking for an highly stylized epic will find exactly what there looking for in this prequel of sorts to 300. The release date is still undetermined so it could be pushed back to 2012.

The Least Anticipated Movies Of 2011
Unofficial Trailer

Michael Bay Doing What He Does Best Blowing Stuff Up

Movie: Transformers: Dark Of The Moon
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Hugo Weaving, Rosie Huntington-Whitley, Tyrese Gibson.
Director: Michael Bay 
Release Date: July 1st, 2011


Most of the cast and Director Michael Bay are back for a third installment in the Transformers series. Bay booted Megan Fox though for stating the obvious: that these movies are less creative than the toys they are based on. With less character development than a video game, nonsensical plotlines and humor that just isn't funny these movies will have to be remembered as some of the worst blockbusters ever. However, I have to assume that Bay will replace her with an equally vacuous actress. There is a new writer on board as the old writers got tired of writing these stories so perhaps that is some good news. It's a shame that Shia LaBeouf's will likely be remembered for these films because he is actually a much better actor than these movies deserve. Hey, everyone needs a paycheck though, right?

Watch The Trailer For Pirates Of The Caribbean On Stranger Tides


Movie: Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Starring: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane
Director: Rob Marshall
Release Date: May 20th, 2011

Jerry Bruckheimer and Disney closed out the original adventures of Jack Sparrow with the epic failure that was Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End. Two and half hours of mostly unwatchable drudgery that saw Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) live happily ever after and Jack sail off into the sunset. The end, or so we thought, Disney is now trying to resuscitate the franchise by getting rid of the Will Turner and Elizabeth storyline and creating a completely new adventure for Jack. The original writers are back and this time they are borrowing from another legend. Jack will be searching for the fountain of youth but will have to face off against Blackbeard (Ian McShane). Like the other films this plot is probably only an excuse for the characters to go from one locale to the next chasing each other frantically with loud theme music blaring. Johnny Depp once made the comment that the Pirates Of The Caribbean movies were movies he made that he felt his kids could enjoy. That may be true but kids don't have very good taste in movies.

Movie: Green Lantern
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard
Director: Martin Cambell
Release Date: June 17th, 2011


"A test pilot is granted a mystical green ring that bestows him with otherworldly powers, as well as membership into an intergalactic squadron tasked with keeping peace within the universe." That's the actual plot synopsis on imdb.  If you think that sounds silly think about this, they actually casted Ryan Reynolds as the hero and Blake Lively as his love interest. This movie will be like watching a high school play or worse yet anything on the CW. Ryan Reynolds has exactly two facial expressions: goofy and constipated. You can tell from the casting and the fact that Green Lantern just isn't a popular character that this is going to be a b-rate adaptation.